'Occupy' damage tallied

Monday

Jan 30, 2012 at 12:01 AMJan 30, 2012 at 10:52 AM

OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland officials yesterday assessed damage to City Hall caused by Occupy protesters, while leaders of the movement said that police acted illegally in arresting hundreds of demonstrators and could face a lawsuit.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland officials yesterday assessed damage to City Hall caused by Occupy protesters, while leaders of the movement said that police acted illegally in arresting hundreds of demonstrators and could face a lawsuit.

Mayor Jean Quan was among those inspecting damage caused after dozens of people broke into City Hall on Saturday, smashing glass display cases, spray-painting graffiti and burning an American flag.

That break-in culminated a day of clashes between protesters and police. Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan said nearly 400 people were arrested on charges such as failure to disperse and vandalism. At least three officers and one protester were injured.

In a news release yesterday, the Occupy Oakland Media Committee criticized the police conduct, saying that most of the arrests were made illegally because police failed to allow protesters to disperse.

“Contrary to their own policy, the OPD gave no option of leaving or instruction on how to depart,” the release said. “These arrests are completely illegal, and this will probably result in another class-action lawsuit against the OPD, who have already cost Oakland $58 million in lawsuits over the past 10 years.”

The scene around City Hall was mostly quiet yesterday morning, and it was unclear whether protesters would mount another large-scale demonstration.

Dozens of officers remained inside and outside City Hall after guarding it overnight.

“They were never able to occupy a building outside of City Hall,” Jordan said yesterday. “We suspect they will try to go to the convention center again. They will get not get in”

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